ALBANY, N.Y. >> The NAACP has joined the fight to bring ridesharing to upstate New York, the only place in the continental United States where such services are illegal.

In a report released Monday in partnership with ridesharing service Uber, the NAACP’s New York State Conference called on state legislators to pass a bill allowing ridesharing statewide, saying it would level the playing field for transit equity and economic growth. Services such as Uber, the app-generated ride service that hires private drivers in their own vehicles to transport clients, could complement public transit routes to move people both affordably and efficiently around the Capital Region, NAACP officials said.

“This report confirms that inadequate public transportation options have created a barrier preventing low-income communities from enjoying the benefits of a growing economy in upstate New York,” said Hazel Dukes, president of the conference, in a news release.

The report analyzed transportation needs and deficiencies in four of upstate’s largest cities: Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. Those deficiencies, such as the Capital District Transit Authority’s limited routes and sporadic departure times after 8 p.m., cement a barrier between many communities of color and economic success, according to the NAACP.

Advertisement

The report says 14.4 percent of Capital Region workers do not have a vehicle available to take them to work, as more than 20,000 low-income families in the Capital Region do not own cars. Those who travel to work by taxi face inconsistent service and pricey fares that leave those in suburban and rural areas in “transit deserts.”

Uber and other ridesharing services could potentially revitalize the area and save millions in potential taxpayer dollars, the report argues. It further notes ways Uber can benefit the area, including the implementation of a ridesharing commuter program, where drivers provide local commuters with free or discounted rides to the Amtrak train station in Rensselaer.

“Uber can be an important complement to existing public transit options in cities across New York state,” said Josh Mohrer, general manager of Uber New York, in the release.

Business owners in the Capital Region have also spoken out on the need for ridesharing to promote business and traffic in downtown locations. Vic Christopher, a Troy restaurateur, has been instrumental in pushing the need for ridesharing companies in the area and agreed with the findings in the report.

“Our clientele is outside of Troy,” said Christopher, who owns five restaurants in the downtown area. “Parking in a city is somewhat intimidating for these people.”

Christopher is hopeful that if Uber is brought to the Capital Region and other upstate cities, people will begin exploring areas that are not frequented by many.

“The thing that excites me is that people will rediscover the cool downtowns,” he said. “I really want people to enjoy all of these things.”

Christopher took his efforts further by teaming up with the Capital Region Ridesharing Coalition and production company Two Buttons Deep to produce Operation #FakeUber, a short video also released Monday that examines the impact of the lack of ridesharing in Troy. Christopher drove the streets of downtown Troy, ushering patrons to their destinations after Winter Storm Stella.

“In America, we have certain inalienable rights that I see are being infringed upon when people feel they need to ask permission to have someone else ride in their vehicle,” said Christopher.

Uber’s establishment locally also has the potential to make roads safer for visitors and residents, he said, adding that ridesharing could also lower the number of intoxicated drivers on the road. He said opposition to the proposal comes from such groups as lawyers who profit from drunken-driving arrests and insurance companies who make money insuring taxi drivers, both of which would be threatened by the introduction of ridesharing services.

Christopher believes the legislation, as it currently stands, is unworkable and confusing to the public because it has many provisions that do not ensure regulation and undermine the need for affordable transportation.

“Politicians are acting to their constituents like they support it, while presenting flawed legislation,” he said.